1st February 2010

Hedge Lines

It’s not often that you get an opportunity to see country craftsmen in action, but pay a visit to Badshot Lea and you’ll see a team of Hampshire craftsmen carrying out the traditional craft of hedge laying. The work is part of an on-going programme being carried out in the Blackwater Valley Road Landscape Area, managed by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership (BVCP) on behalf of Surrey County Council.

Sue Dent Acting Manager at BVCP explains:

“There are lots of hedges in the south of the Valley that were planted when the Blackwater Valley Road was built. They now need management and it’s great to do something which benefits the landscape and wildlife, looks good and makes the hedges easier to manage.  We are really pleased to be able to support this traditional craft and bring it to the Valley.”

Left unmanaged a hedgerow will continue to grow upwards and outwards and will eventually become a line of trees. In contrast a well-managed hedgerow is thick and bushy, forming an attractive yet impenetrable barrier for livestock and a haven for wildlife.  Hedge laying, along with trimming and coppicing, is one of the traditional management techniques and will rejuvenate an ageing hedgerow.  It helps put on new growth and improves the overall structure and strength of the hedge, as the cut trees and shrubs grow from the base, creating a dense hedge that provides both food and shelter for wildlife.

“This stretch complements the work we have done in previous years, both alongside the Blackwater Valley Path and along the A331,” added Sue. “We aim to lay at least one length of hedgerow each year as part of an on-going  programme which has been carried out over the past couple of years.”.

The work is supported and funded by Surrey County Council. More information about hedge laying can be found at the National Hedge Laying Society website www.hedgelaying.org.uk.

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For further information contact:
Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331353.
Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership,
Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 2PS.w